Some residents in the City of Cortland are pushing the city to get more aggressive with its approach to the crow problem; they have submitted a petition to the Common Council demanding action.

Several residents living at the senior citizen high-rise building at 42 Church Street are fed up with the nuisance crow problem that occurs every year. They want City Hall to get serious about the crows and find a way to move them out.

Vicky Symonds was among the 72 people who signed the petition and appeared before the City Council Tuesday night.

Symonds says the crows are damaging her vehicle, creating a mess in the senior citizen building, and potentially creating a health concern.

Symonds say the city’s approach to the crow problem which thus far has included organizing a volunteer crow chasing committee to make noise and dispute the crows just isn’t getting the job done.

Cortland along with many other upstate city’s have struggled with the crow problem, thousands of crows flock to the city centers in the colder months because of the well lit areas, crows have poor night vision and seek well lit areas to protect themselves from predators. Communities like the City of Auburn have spent thousands of dollars to deal with th their crow problems.

Cortland First Ward Alderman Julie Bird is hoping for a more cost effective grass roots approach. Bird is trying to organize enough volunteers to create enough disruptions to relocate the crows.

Residents are urged to go out in the evenings and harass the crows by making noise or shining laser pens on them in order to keep them from roosting.

Bird’s crow committee is meeting tonight at City Hall at seven o’clock tonight; she is hoping more people will join the effort.

Property owners are remind that they are responsible for keeping sidewalks clean